RESOURCES from 4word
Gratitude At Work
Last week we talked about gratitude and faith, so this week I thought we’d address the role gratitude can and should (but probably doesn’t) play in your workplace. When is the last time you heard (or offered) sincere gratitude at work? Research suggests that people are less likely… Read More
Audacious Gratitude
Are you daring enough to practice audacious gratitude? It can be challenging to be truly grateful for the thousands of blessings we experience in a day. We’re so accustomed to these gifts that it takes a concerted effort just to notice them. Every day I put at the… Read More
Living and Loving in the Midst of Grief
Last Sunday, a remarkable procession of 19 white hearses wound their way through Arizona towns and cities, traveling 125 miles from Phoenix to Prescott in order to lay to rest the bodies of 19 brave firefighters. Despite stifling 104-degree heat, thousands of people lined the route, standing in… Read More
Support for Working Women Starts With You
Are you supporting other women at work? We can all do more to help support each other. And we SHOULD do more! First, because it’s the right thing to do; and second, because women need sponsorship and support in the workplace. A growing body of research shows that… Read More
You are Perfectly Made
I want you to take a minute today to meditate on the following biblical truths: You are God’s unique creation. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). For you formed my… Read More
Doing Less, Because You Care
How often do you find yourself taking on extra work just because “It’ll be quicker if I do this myself?” Or even worse, because “no one else will do it right?” I’ve seen women (and men for that matter) around me who do this every day both in… Read More
The Truth About Ambition
So, women have made some great advances in education and in the work place in recent decades, but we still lag behind men when it comes to compensation, promotion, and executive-level management. This is true despite the fact that our nation’s top colleges are graduating more women than… Read More
Meet Our Dads
In honor of Fathers Day this coming weekend, some members of the 4word team would like to share our Fathers with you! Amy & Daryl :: The older I get, the more I realize how blessed I am to have a dad like mine. The… Read More
A Disciplined Life
A friend of mine passed along a great bible study from Renner Ministries this week that got me thinking about the value of leading a disciplined life. The specific session was focused on the importance of helping your children develop responsibility and self-discipline. It encouraged parents to “Do… Read More
How to Tell If You’re Dating For Keeps
Is the guy you’re dating a guy you could (or should) marry? Don’t worry, even if you’re not in a relationship yet, it’s not too early to start thinking this through, and it actually might be better to come up with a plan before those warm fuzzy feelings… Read More
Sponsors and Mentors: Special Relationships That Can Advance Your Career and Improve Your Life
Is it okay to use relationships to get ahead at work? I’m not talking about anything illicit or even romantic. Just whether or not it’s ethical to trade on friendships, or even build friendships with the intention of using them to your advantage. According to the research, most… Read More
Can I Pray For You?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” - Matthew 11:28-30 When I arrived at… Read More
Celebrating Moms
In honor of Mothers Day this coming weekend, Diane and the 4word team are sharing our moms with you! Diane & Sharon. My mom lived her life with total confidence in the Lord’s providence. And that confidence freed her to live generously, and to love others without reservation. … Read More
Advice to My Younger Self
As part of an ongoing series, NPR has been asking working women to offer advice to their “younger selves.” It’s great to look back and really think about what kinds of things I could have done differently or realized earlier. If I could go back to when I… Read More
Where Does God Run?
What a week this has been. I arrived in Boston last Wednesday night for the Salvation Army National Advisory Board meeting, already shaken from news of the Boston Marathon bombings. The next morning I woke up to hear about the devastating explosion in West, Texas. By Friday we… Read More
A Real Partner
What does it mean to have a “real partner?” As I mentioned last week, I just finished Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In, and one of her main recommendations for working women is to “make your partner a real partner.” Sheryl cites research showing that if a married couple… Read More
Leaning In, Together
I’ve been reading Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, Lean In. For the most part I like it very much, with one caveat. For me, no discussion of work life balance is complete without faith. I believe that work and family are best served through a relationship with one God,… Read More
A Purposeful Life
One of my friends Charlotte likes to say that “the purpose of life is to have a purposeful life.” I love that quote because it reminds me how simple life really is (even though it often feels complicated!). The thing is, “purposeful” doesn’t necessarily mean “important,” the way… Read More
The Simple Secret to Building Successful Relationships
I’ve been thinking about relationship-building a lot lately. A few weeks ago I explored how Facebook can help you build stronger relationships. Then last week I had the honor of attending and speaking at Co-Lab, a conference for a diverse group of Christian ministry leaders including Nancy Ortberg… Read More
Embracing Plan C, and Other Wise Examples From Working Women of the Bible.
Expectations are tricky things, aren't they? Undoubtedly, setting some high expectations for yourself can be a positive motivating force in your life and your work. The apostle Paul used them to motivate himself – to remain strong and faithful in the face of great adversity (Philippians 1:20). But… Read More